Red Pepper Flakes

Crushed red pepper or red pepper flakes is a condiment consisting of dried and crushed red chili peppers. Crushed red pepper shakers have become as standard as salt and pepper on tables at Italian restaurants and especially pizza parlors. So common, in fact, are the red pepper flakes as a pizza ingredient that the spice is also known as "the pizza pepper." Red pepper flakes are not made of one type of chile, but from various combinations of ancho, bell, cayenne and more. Frequently there is a high percentage of seeds as well making for a very hot addition to foods. Crushed red pepper flakes are used in pickling, chowders, gumbos, spaghetti sauce, pizza sauce and sausage. As chilis have become more popular the styles and varieties of peppers used to make crushed red pepper has also increased.